Bathing goofballs

These are my silly boys....  having a blast playing together in the tub before bedtime.  Goofballs.

My boy at his soccer game

This is my little guy kicking the ball back in during the soccer game this morning.  :)  He just melts me....

Tree snail

I love these little tree snails that we have here in the Keys.  They are just beautiful...so intricate.  This little one was on my stairs today.

Beautiful rainbow tonight

This rainbow stuck around for a really long time tonight right before a major thunderstorm.  My family and I went to watch (and photograph) our son's close friend's football game in Key West.  The game was interrupted due to lightning, but then continued and finished right as the skies emptied and a crazy storm hit!  The kids were freaking out with all the lightning during the whole drive home.  They kept saying they were worried about their friends back at the football field.  So sweet...

My boy and his guitar

My son started guitar lessons today.  He seems to really love it! I think he's a natural! He wanted to practice while his brother and I played on the swings in our yard.  He just sat up in his fort and played his guitar.  It was awesome! :)

Kicking it!

This is my little guy at soccer practice tonight. The smile on his face after he makes a goal is priceless....

My little model

He agreed to be my little model.  We had a blast by the water and found every single puddle in the vicinity together - he was very happy.

Climbing the rock wall

We had a great day after church today at a nearby pool.  The bay beach had a great inflatable rock climbing wall that my son had a blast climbing. 

Beautiful night

I was admiring this view before a photoshoot tonight.  This is where I live - NOT some fancy exotic location in the Pacific.  Sometimes I have to remind myself - I really live in paradise...

CREEPY beetle

The kids and I found this creepy beetle on our porch tonight, so, of course, I had to take a picture.... IT was so dark and cloudy, but I was able to get a decent enough shot anyway.  Look at his eyes!!

My sleeping boy

There is something about a sleeping child that just pulls at your heart, isn't there?  Such innocence and pure sweetness.  I swear I just gave birth to this 7 year old boy.... how do they grow up so fast?

My boy's hair cut

I cut my son's hair today...myself!  And, I have to say - it came out pretty darn well!  He's so handsome. :)  

Reading with Daddy

My husband put both kids to sleep tonight while I did some work and tried to catch up with everything.  How sweet is this?

Cuddling with Daddy

This is how I found my baby boy and Daddy reading tonight.  :)  My son likes to cuddle up when he reads with us. It's awesome. I walked in just as my husband asked "What kind of animal is that?", and my son said "Oceros" (It was a rhinoceros).  Then, he corrected himself, thought better of it, and said "It's a RHINO Daddy!".  SO CUTE!

Happy swinger

My husband built the swing set part of the playground in our yard today.  The kids were ecstatic.  They spent a good hour swinging while we cleaned up the yard and mulched around them. :)  Look at my son's happy, sweet face!

Beach birthday party

We celebrated our younger son's fourth birthday at the beach today.  I can't even believe how fast he is growing up...  Here is the happy boy with some of his balloons and a lollipop treat from the pinata.  :)

Watching the cookies bake

These are my boys actually watching the chocolate chip cookies bake in the oven this afternoon.   Ha ha!  They couldn't wait to try them out.  They are so precious and adorable!  

Daddy's little helpers

My husband is building a play fort in our yard for the kids.  They absolutely love going out to help him...even if it's only for 15 mins after he gets home from work.  Look at my younger son's arm around Daddy's shoulder....precious.

Beautiful dunes

I live in paradise... wouldn't you agree?  I loved the way the wind was moving the dune grass as the clouds rolled in at the beach tonight.... beautiful.

Goal!

Well, ok, not really a "goal"....they were practicing at soccer to kick the ball into the net with either foot.  My son loves to run and kick the ball....he may not understand which direction to run in or what the whole object of the game is yet (ha ha), but he does love to wail on that ball.  He had the biggest smile on his face when he got the ball in the net.  :)

My baby

I shot a picture through the sliding glass doors today of my baby boy playing on the porch.  He was riding his tricycle around like a crazy boy - back and forth, back and forth.  Finally I got him to stop and look at me.  Nice smile! ;-)

Boys on the boat

We went out on the boat this morning.  It was such a great time! My older son and I snorkeled all over the reef!  He was such a sponge - asking what every fish was and so genuinely excited to soak up everything.  His favorite sightings were the school of barracudas and the spotted moray eel.  Meanwhile my younger son got "whale rides" on his Daddy's back and rode in the blow-up boat while Daddy towed him around the reef.  It was one of those days where you look up in the sky, throw your arms out, and say "Seriously? THANK YOU!" and just feel gratitude flowing out of you....  I'm sure my face cracked from all the smiling.  I've been dreaming of this day to be able to snorkel with my kids and husband on the reef for a long time.  :)  I snuck this shot of my sons on the bow of the boat as we were getting ready to drive back home.  They were both happy and exhausted; my baby boy just reached over to kiss and hug his brother, and I caught it!  Their bond makes me melt...

Bubble Fun!

The boys had a blast blowing bubbles while Daddy (yes, he is HOME finally after working for 3 days straight DAY AND NIGHT!!!) barbequed dinner for us.  I was just lying on the couch like a blob - I am completely exhausted and run down.  But, I heard screams and giggles and had to find out what was going on.... they were hysterical as they chased bubbles around the porch.  It takes so little to make them happy.  Simple.  Love it.  This picture sure makes me smile.

Talking to Tiger

When my little boy woke up from his nap this afternoon, he leaned on the ottoman and spent about 10 minutes "talking" to his Tiger, and then he wanted Tiger to be in a picture so he was asking him to smile.  One of my son's favorite things to do lately?  He asks me to ask Tiger if he loves him, and then I make Tiger nod his wobbly head like crazy, which makes my son giggle hysterically.  :) I LOVE the sweet innocence of childhood.  There is nothing more pure and good.

My baby boy's eyes

Whenever I am having a bad day, all I have to do is just stare into my baby boy's eyes and I feel better. What a sweetheart....

My little one "reading"

Look who I found "reading" to his tiger in his brother's room tonight right before bathtime?  He melts me.... I just love him to pieces.  I kept hearing a little voice saying "Once upon a time..." over and over coming from the bedroom and when I peaked in, this is what I saw.  

Little green heron

This Little Green Heron was high up in a tree, seemingly watching the sunset last night at the Blue Hole.  

Sea oat

I took a photo of this sea oat seed pod against the beautiful sky at the beach tonight.  

Phenomenal sunset

I went to the beach this evening after my family had a great barbeque dinner.  I was blown away by the amazing sunset tonight...the clouds were busting with colors - really beautiful! 

Boys at mini-golf

We had Family Night tonight.  We went to play mini-golf and then had a great dinner out.  It was so much fun playing with the boys!  I managed to snag this picture during the craziness that is golf with two small children - NOT a small task getting them to sit still....